Down to Earth (Colonization, Book 2)

Turtledove's latest book is a continuation of the Colonization series (which itself is a continuation of the Worldwar Saga). Anyone just shopping for a book should first order Worldwar: In the Balance, as this is truly the first book in this double series.As for those of us who have happily fallen victim to Turtledove's ingenious alternative history of World War II, Down To Earth continues to make us burn the candle at both ends until we finish this story. Turtledove sets this book about a decade or two since the last book. I found it interesting to become re-aquainted with the characters and see what was happening years after the Race had landed.Down To Earth spends the first 3/4 of the book building towards the climax at the end, only to leave us realizing the real climax will be reached with the next Colonization book. I appreciate that Turtledove does not rush to cram his series into a few chapters, instead choosing to allow each story to develop in its own right.Definately a must read for anyone reading the series.

I must say at the outset, that Turtledove's latest installment was good, not perfect, but good. He slowed the pace a bit for character development which is always a good thing. Concerning the political/military situation in the world, Turtledove has set up some scenarios that touch enough modern issues (such as middle eastern tensions) to interest readers that don't have a particular interest in history from the WW2 era and its aftermath, as well as many things that will speak forcefully to anyone that has a great interest in that time period as well. I heartily disagree with one of the reviewers that suggested that the America depicted in this book is a happier place than the one we know from OTL (our time line). The America depicted here seems to be tottering on the edge of becoming a police state... then again, there are many Americans that wouldn't seem to mind this.I look forward to the next installment with great anticipation.So nice to hear from Stirling.

Yes I know that things are spaced out a bit, but it just allows for more plot development. After reading some series that start out with 300 pages in 12 point font with the first book and with 30 point type by the fourth book,, I'm happy to have more, rather than less to read

Harry Turtledove writes too much, and sometimes -- as in the case of "Into the Darkness -- it shows. But this must have been the book he was neglecting "Darkness" to work on. The characters grow steadily more interesting, the sociosexual goings-on among the Lizards get more fascinating, and the action keeps going. But, oh, Sam Yeager should have restrained his curiosity! Worth the hardcover price, even to a cheapskate like me.

Well, it's another Turtledove book... which is to say a big cast of interesting, well-realized characters (some with scales and eye-turrets, here), well-developed background, and a dry sense of humor.Check out the alien pets, for instance! And the grazing animals, whose motto is: "We make a desert and call it Home!"A generation after the Lizards land in 1942, expecting to fight the Crusaders, we find out that there's more to American policy than meets the eye; that a sane tyrant like Molotov has some disadvantages compared to a mad one like Stalin; and that some humans can make imperialist invaders from the stars look like good guys.Speaking of which, Turtledove keeps firmly in mind a fact that a writer should never forget -- everyone is the hero in their own story. His characters have _reasons_ for what they do, reasons that make sense from the character's own p.o.v. They're never cardboard cutouts, manipulated for plot purposes. They breathe, and many of them become like old friends.Buy the book!